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Starship upper stage recovery faces grim odds after 13th flight
16 days ago•Source: Yahoo
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18.575 min•29 days ago
SpaceX shares tumble to a fresh low after Starship test fuels investor caution
SpaceX's SPCX stock slipped to a new all-time low around $110 after a Starship test, despite milestones like deploying 20 Starlink satellites and an in-space engine restart, as investors weigh Starship's costs, refurbishment needs, and whether SpaceX can sustain higher launch rates over Falcon 9.
14.195 min•1 month ago
SpaceX Prepares Starship Flight 13 With Upgrades and Starlink Deployment
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SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral
SpaceX successfully launched the Starlink 6-60 mission on May 28, 2024, after a Memorial Day scrub, adding 23 more satellites to its internet constellation. The Falcon 9 rocket, using booster B1078 for its 10th flight, lifted off from Cape Canaveral and landed on the droneship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas.' This marks SpaceX's 55th Falcon 9 launch of the year, with the company aiming for up to 14 launches in May and potentially 135 by year-end.
SpaceX Schedules June 5 for Starship Flight 4, Reviews Past Issues
SpaceX is targeting June 5 for the fourth flight test of its Starship rocket, focusing on demonstrating reusability and controlled reentry. The company has made several hardware and software improvements following issues in the third flight, including better propellant filtration and enhanced roll control. The launch awaits FAA approval, and the mission is crucial for NASA's Artemis program, aiming for a crewed Moon landing in 2026.
"SpaceX's Record-Breaking 90th Orbital Mission: 23 Starlink Satellites Sent to Orbit"
SpaceX successfully launched its 90th orbital mission of the year, deploying 23 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and its first stage returned for a vertical landing on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions." With over 5,100 active satellites, SpaceX's Starlink network aims to provide global broadband coverage. The company plans to continue its high launch cadence, targeting 144 launches in 2024.
"SpaceX's Next Starship Launch to Include Crucial In-Flight Fuel Transfer Test"
SpaceX's upcoming third flight of the Starship vehicle may include a refueling test, according to a presentation by NASA's Lakiesha Hawkins. Off-Earth propellant transfer is seen as crucial for future exploration missions, such as establishing crewed outposts on the moon and Mars. NASA awarded SpaceX $53 million in 2020 to conduct a refueling trial in Earth orbit, involving the transfer of 11 tons of liquid oxygen between tanks inside a Starship vehicle. Starship has been selected by NASA as the first crewed lunar lander for the Artemis program, with a target of landing astronauts near the moon's south pole by 2025 or 2026.
"Nose Cone Finale: Endeavour's Exhibit Showcases Solid Rocket Boosters"
The California Science Center has completed the first major components for the vertical exhibit of NASA's retired space shuttle Endeavour by adding two nose cones to the solid rocket boosters (SRBs). The 27-foot-tall assemblies, weighing 10,000 pounds each, were raised and secured onto the boosters, which were previously hoisted into place. These SRBs, assembled from flight-worthy or previously launched parts, will be mated with NASA's last-remaining space shuttle external tank early next year. Endeavour's current exhibit will be closed to the public on January 1, 2024, in preparation for its move to the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center site.
"Report Urges Creation of Space Rescue Service for Upcoming Space Tourism Era"
A report by the nonprofit Rand Corp. suggests the need for a Space Rescue Service to be deployed in low Earth orbit or even at the moon to assist astronauts or tourists in emergency situations. While there are challenges to be addressed, such as funding and international treaties, the service would fill a crucial gap in space exploration as the number of people flying in space increases. Currently, there is no emergency-rescue system for space, and the report proposes looking at examples like the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office and NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office for inspiration. The first steps toward a Space Rescue Service could involve discussions at space conferences and the standardization of docking ports to facilitate spacecraft servicing in space.
Cosmonauts Successfully Dock Russian Progress Cargo Ship to ISS Amid Autopilot Glitch
Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS) manually docked the Russian Progress cargo ship, Progress 86, after its automated rendezvous system experienced a glitch. Using a remote control system called TORU, cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko took control of the cargo ship and successfully docked it with the ISS. The cargo ship was carrying 5,600 pounds of supplies for the crewmembers on the station.
Europe's I-Hab: Continuing the Spacelab Legacy to the Moon
Europe's legacy of space modules, starting with the launch of Spacelab in 1983, continues with the development of I-Hab, an element of the Artemis Gateway station that will be deployed in lunar orbit. The hardware for these modules is built and assembled in Europe, with pressure shells still being machined in Turin, Italy, and integration work done in Bremen, Germany. I-Hab will serve as living quarters for crews of four aboard the Gateway and is designed to be smaller and stronger than previous European modules. It will have a "shirtsleeves" working environment and a design lifetime of 15 years. Additionally, plans are underway to deploy Spacelab-size modules on the lunar surface for a future moon base.
Europe's Ariane 6 Rocket Set for June 2024 Launch
The European Space Agency's Ariane 6 rocket is set to make its debut mission in space no earlier than June 15, 2024. The rocket will carry a set of small satellites, including two from NASA. After four years of delays, progress is accelerating, with a successful hotfire test recently completed. Europe has emphasized the need for independent launching access to space, and the Ariane 6 rocket aims to meet the new generation of launching needs by lowering costs and launching more satellites to different orbits at once. The rocket's launch date is subject to potential delays due to the complexities of rocket science.
SpaceX Achieves Milestone with 250th Rocket Landing and Launches South Korean Spy Satellite
SpaceX successfully launched Ireland's first satellite, EIRSAT-1, and a South Korean reconnaissance satellite as part of a mission that included a total of 25 satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket, which marked SpaceX's 250th successful recovery of an orbital class rocket, lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The first stage of the rocket landed at Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg. The South Korean satellite, called 425 Project EO/IR, is part of a set of five that SpaceX has been contracted to launch by 2025. EIRSAT-1, built by students from University College Dublin, carries payloads including a gamma ray detector and an evaluation of protective coatings.